ABUJA, AN outbreak of Lassa fever, caused by rats, has killed more than 100 people in Nigeria since the beginning of the year.<\/P>
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The deaths have been documented from 586 cases.<\/P>
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Lassa fever has affected some 26 states out of the West African countrys 36 states.<\/P>
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The commercial state of Lagos is the most recently affected.<\/P>
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Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, the Minister of State for Health, confirmed the death of 103 people.<\/P>
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He reiterated the federal governments commitment to ensure that research institutes in Nigeria would find Lassa fever vaccines to curb the incidence of the yearly outbreaks.<\/P>
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Lassa fever is usually initially spread to people via contact with the urine or feces of infected rats.<\/P>
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It can spread via direct contact between humans.<\/P>
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The disease is known endemic in Nigeria and many West African countries where sporadic cases are reported all year round.<\/P>
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Seasonal peaks are typically between December and April.<\/P>
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Africas most populous country of 200 million people, Nigeria is prone to disease outbreaks.<\/P>
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The government recently embarked on a campaign to vaccinate over 55 million children against polio.<\/P>
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The campaign targeted children aged under five years.<\/P>
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Nigeria meanwhile is on high alert for a possible outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19).<\/P>
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Mamora confirmed that five cases had been identified but all results came out negative.<\/P>
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The public must avoid peddling fake news because of the danger it might pose to the society, the minister warned.<\/P>
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Thousands of people have died since the outbreak of the virus in China at the end of 2019.<\/P>
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Source: CAJ News Agency <\/P>
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